L-carnitine supplementation decreases lipid peroxidation and improves cardiopulmonary function in broiler chickens reared at high altitude

An experiment was carried out to examine the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance and cardiopulmonary function of broiler chickens reared at high altitude (2100 m above sea level). A total of 96 day-old male chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned into two dietary treatments containing 0 (control group) and 200 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental diets were fed for a period of 42 days consisting of the starting (days 1 to 21) and growing periods (days 21 to 42). Nutrient requirements of chickens met the NRC (1994) recommendations. The results showed that dietary L-carnitine had no significant influence on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. L-carnitine reduced plasma concentration of malondialdehyde, packed cell volume (PCV) and abdominal fat deposition compared to the control (P < 0.05). A significant (P < 0.05) decrease was observed in the right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV) in birds receiving L-carnitine when compared to the control. Supplementation of L-carnitine increased plasma nitric oxide and immune responsiveness, which manifested in an increased toe-web thickness index measured at 24 h following the injection of phytohaemagglutinin P. In conclusion, supplementation of L-carnitine had beneficial effects on preventing lipid peroxidation and pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens raised at high altitude

Dislodged Interatrial Septum Occluder was Found in an Incredible Place: A Case Report

Secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common type of interatrial septum defects. Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD has replaced traditional surgical ASD closure in most cases. Embolization of device is relatively uncommon (0.3%), but it can be a life-threatening situation that needs emergency open heart surgery. We presented a 44-year-old woman who underwent a successful ASD device closure, but the day after procedure, she presented with dyspnea and frequent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with absence of device in interatrial septum (IAS) position. Further investigation by transesophageal revealed atrial septal occluder in the right pulmonary artery that extracted by surgery successfully

A thirty-one-year old pregnant woman with infiltrative cardiac masses

Primary cardiac tumors are rare in all ages. Their reported prevalence ranges from 0.001 to 0.03 percent in autopsy series. 25 percent of primary cardiac tumors are considered to be malignant, the majority of which are sarcomas. On account of the late presentation of symptoms in malignant heart masses, finding locally infiltrative tumors or systemically widespread cases at initial presentation is common. We present a case of malignant heart tumor in a thirty-one-year old woman who was first examined here after the termination of pregnancy

Menstrual disturbances in women with congenital heart diseases

Background: Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) may experience menstrual disturbances secondary to hemodynamic instability during the mensturation phase. Objectives: We investigated the menstrual bleeding pattern and its relationship with certain clinical findings in adult women with CHD. Patients and Methods: Clinical data and menstrual bleeding pattern of adult women >15 years old who were referred to adult CHD clinic between March and September 2014 were recorded. Patients with syndromic congenital anomalies were excluded. Results: Data of 304 women (151 and 153 with simple and complex CHD groups, respectively) were recorded. Their mean (SD) age was 25.2 (1) years (range, 15-46 years). The median (IQR) age at menarche was 13 (12-14.25) years. Menarche was later in patients with CHD than in the normal population. Furthermore, the simple group showed earlier menarche than the complex group. The most common menstrual abnormality was menorrhagia in both groups (14.5% and 20.5% in the simple and complex groups, respectively). The incidence of menstrual abnormality was higher, though not significantly, in the complex group (40% vs. 25% in the simple group; P = 0.2). Menorrhagia was associated with the severity of oxygen desaturation (P= 0.007). Conclusions: Menstrual abnormalities are common in women with CHD, and therefore this group of patients should be aware of the menstrual function and its abnormalities

New Horizon of Intervention in Congenital Heart Disease: AFR in a Complex Cyanotic Patient

Double-inlet left ventricle (DILV) is the commonest form of the anatomic univentricular heart which has different ventriculoarterial connection; generally, the most prevalent type is DILV with the hypoplastic right ventricle on the left side. The disease is associated with several heart defects, and the treatment method is different based on the anatomy of the heart, but treatment methods are almost always palliative. In this paper, we described one adult patient with DILV and severe left AV (atrioventricular valve) stenosis who is managed with a novel palliative intervention; it means AFR (atrial flow regulator) device implantation for the first time

Dissection of the interventricular septum after compressive blunt chest trauma

We report the case of a 21-year-old woman who was referred after a severe compressive blunt trauma in the context of job injury. Myocardial contusion is a common injury; however, rupture of the ventricular septum after blunt chest trauma is a rare event. Echocardiography revealed a large ventricular septal rupture with two small ventricular septal defects. The patient was a candidate for surgical repair after early conservative management. We discuss about the prevalence and management of this rare traumatic complication

Intracardiac foregut cyst, in a 42-year-old woman with partial atrioventricular septal defect, a rare incidental finding

A 42-year-old female with gradual-onset dyspnea on exertion and a systolic murmur is presented, in whom electrocardiogram showed left axis deviation with an Rsr' pattern in lead V1. Chest X-ray had a pulmonary vascular shunt and echocardiography marked a large ostium primum atrial septal defect together with a cleft in the mitral valve, leading to a diagnosis of the partial atrioventricular septal defect. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging depicted an incidental cyst on the roof of the left atrium. The operation was performed, and the cyst was excised. It measured 15 mm in diameter, had a fibrotic wall and contained homogeneous gelatinous material. Histopathology showed a small simple cyst with a fibrotic wall, lined by cuboidal to respiratory-type columnar cells. No evidence of malignancy was noted. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged in good clinical condition

Left Pulmonary Artery Stenting with Glenn Shunt: In- troducing a Hybrid Procedure

Complexity of some congenital heart diseases sometimes necessitates a combination of interventional procedures and surgery, amongst which intraoperative stent implantation is one of the most common. We herein report a successful hybrid procedure in a cyanotic adult patient who had undergone no procedure in childhood. The patient was a 24-year-old cyanotic male (oxygen saturation in the room air was 65%) who presented with dyspnea. According to echocardiography, catheterization, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data, the patient was amenable to the Fontan surgery. However, because of significant left pulmonary stenosis and his age, he first underwent a hybrid procedure (Glenn shunt and left pulmonary artery [LPA] stenting). After the procedure, oxygen saturation rose to 83%. At six months’ follow-up of the patient exercise capacity and cyanosis had improved significantly, with O2 saturation having reached near 85% by pulse oximetry